Does being multi-headed make you better at solving problems? A survey of Physarum-based models and computations

Chao Gao; Chen Liu; Daniel Schenz; Xuelong Li; Zili Zhang; Marko Jusup; Zhen Wang; Madeleine Beekman; Toshiyuki Nakagaki

doi:10.1016/j.plrev.2018.05.002

Does being multi-headed make you better at solving problems? A survey of Physarum-based models and computations

Phys Life Rev. 2019 Jul:29:1-26. doi: 10.1016/j.plrev.2018.05.002. Epub 2018 May 22.

Authors

Chao Gao¹, Chen Liu², Daniel Schenz³, Xuelong Li⁴, Zili Zhang⁵, Marko Jusup⁶, Zhen Wang⁷, Madeleine Beekman⁸, Toshiyuki Nakagaki⁹

Affiliations

¹ College of Computer and Information Science & College of Software, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
² Center for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China. Electronic address: ChenLiu-Bean@hotmail.com.
³ Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0808, Japan.
⁴ Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710119, Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: xuelong_li@opt.ac.cn.
⁵ College of Computer and Information Science & College of Software, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. Electronic address: zhangzl@swu.edu.cn.
⁶ Center of Mathematics for Social Creativity, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan. Electronic address: mjusup@gmail.com.
⁷ School of Mechanical Engineering and Center for OPTical IMagery Analysis and Learning (OPTIMAL), Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
⁸ School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁹ Center of Mathematics for Social Creativity, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; Global Station for Soft Matter, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0815, Japan.

PMID: 29857934
DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2018.05.002

Abstract

Physarum polycephalum, a single-celled, multinucleate slime mould, is a seemingly simple organism, yet it exhibits quasi-intelligent behaviour during extension, foraging, and as it adapts to dynamic environments. For these reasons, Physarum is an attractive target for modelling with the underlying goal to uncover the physiological mechanisms behind the exhibited quasi-intelligence and/or to devise novel algorithms for solving complex computational problems. The recent increase in modelling studies on Physarum has prompted us to review the latest developments in this field in the context of modelling and computing alike. Specifically, we cover models based on (i) morphology, (ii) taxis, and (iii) positive feedback dynamics found in top-down and bottom-up modelling techniques. We also survey the application of each of these core features of Physarum to solving difficult computational problems with real-world applications. Finally, we highlight some open problems in the field and present directions for future research.

Keywords: Bio-inspired computing; Complex problem solving; Intelligent behaviour; Modelling and computation; Physarum polycephalum.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Algorithms
Computer Simulation*
Models, Biological*
Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted
Physarum polycephalum / physiology*
Surveys and Questionnaires